Friday, October 31, 2008

The Art Of Focus

By Reynaldo Soriano


With the current volatile market conditions, it is imperative to stay focused. You might have a great trading strategy, limitless capital, and the motivation to trade, but if you do not have the full concentration and focus to plan, execute, and monitor your trades, you will miss opportunities or give back profits. It is vital to be focused, so that when an opportunity comes along, you will execute without hesitation. Likewise if you are in a trade and it is going against you, focus is necessary to execute the trade before more losses will occur.

Focused concentration is one of the key fundamental elements to successful trading. Unfortunately, with the way we live our lives these days, it is more of a challenge to stay focused. With our busy day-to-day lives, we do a lot of multi-tasking. We watch TV, we read the news, we make phone calls, we hold meetings over cell phones as we drive to work, we surf the internet while listening to some music, and so on. In the trading arena, we attempt to input so much information and data that we get information overload, which affects our decision-making process. Unfortunately, the human mind has limits when it comes to engagement in multiple tasks, even though the mind itself has no limits.

Do you find it challenging to focus and concentrate while trading? In most cases, it is a reflection of your personality. When you used to study at school, did you have trouble studying in a noisy room? Did it make you irritated easily? Can you remember how you used to study in order to concentrate and be focused?

Focus and concentration can easily be obtained in a quiet room while you are calm and at ease. Unfortunately, trading is often chaotic and stressful, due to the emotions involved. Your concentration and focus can easily be shaken, which could also lead to sabotaging your trading efforts. So, rather than allowing yourself to get distracted, it is imperative to focus on the moment. Meaning...to focus on the process of trading in the here-and-now.

In most cases, I have found that traders whom I coach dwell on their past mistakes and worry about potential future losses rather than being fully engaged with their trades and focusing on the experience of trading. This is when you are in "the zone," having a mental state of peak performance where everything is in sync. Being in a peak state of mind, you are not worried about past mistakes, future losses, or future profits. Your attention and focus is on the trade--you are trading using your skills and instincts. When you are in "the zone," you see the markets more clearly, you are more instensely aware of your feelings, and you make sounder judgements, all of which increases your chances of success.

Peak Performance Strategies to Focus Your Concentration

How can you concentrate and be focused while trading?

Being focused and concentrated while trading takes a lot of psychological energy. Therefore:

1. You must be rested and relaxed if you want to maintain concentration and be focused. By having proper sleep, the mind can be more focused.

2. You must have proper nutrition and get hydrated. The mind can not focus and function properly when you are tired, dehydrated, or hungry.

3. Meditate. Meditation can help you control your stress levels, as stress depletes psychological energy.

4. Minimize your Risk to a level at which you are most comfortable. Risk management is vital and the more you risk, the easier it is to lose concentration as you secretly worry about what you will do should you lose money that you just can't afford to lose.

It is important to be focused and concentrate while trading, but to be able to attain being in "the zone," you must be disciplined in following these strategies. When you are well-rested, hydrated, stress-free, and balanced, you will increase your chances of trading like a Super Trader!

Best wishes,

Reynaldo Soriano Jr. - Your Trader Coach
Enlightened Super Trader Education
www.onlinetradingcfd.com
AUS: +61 439 421 219
USA Toll Free No: +1 877 205 1615

Michael Jordan, the best athlete of all time, had a coach. If trading is your business, do you have a coach? If not, how come?
Please do not hesitate to contact me—I would love to be your coach!

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